**5. Opportunities for integrating LENR policies**

A third policymaking opportunity for LENR is to integrate the policy actions and updates. For example, policies for mitigation planning for secondary impacts can be coordinated with the pace of LENR development and deployment. Policies can also be integrated among agencies at the national level, between the public and private sectors, and among nations.

#### **5.1. Integration of mitigation planning with LENR development support**

As LENR prospects improve as a result of increased support, mitigation planning can be adjusted for the changing imminence and rate of deployment. This adjustment would be necessary to achieve the objectives of proactive planning for mitigation. **Figure 3** shows how the policy response for LENR development (PR) and resulting rate of deployment guides planning for mitigation (GP) as the overall plan (MP) is prepared.

Integrated Policymaking for Realizing Benefits and Mitigating Secondary Impacts of Cold Fusion http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78323 81

**Figure 3.** The pace of mitigation planning is guided by policies for LENR development and the resulting rate of its deployment. GP—Guidance for mitigation planning.

#### **5.2. Integration of LENR policies among agencies, nations, and the private sector**

**4.** Define sources of assistance (e.g., agencies)

MP—Overall mitigation plan.

80 New Trends in Nuclear Science

**7.** Develop and implement mitigation plan

**5.** Engage representatives (e.g., advisory group)

**6.** Define mitigation measures for both direct and indirect impacts

**5. Opportunities for integrating LENR policies**

TA enables proactive planning to mitigate impacts and has ample precedent for application to energy-related issues [36, 37]. **Figure 2** summarizes how the changing LENR landscape leads to the need for policies for mitigating adverse secondary impacts in addition to required policy updates for supporting LENR development. Adverse secondary impacts (ASI) stem from the need for policy updates (NPU) and are addressed by technology assessment methodology (TA). Mitigating measures (MM) are defined, leading to an overall mitigation plan (MP).

**Figure 2.** Illustration of need for policies to mitigate adverse secondary impacts resulting from the changing LENR landscape. ASI—Adverse secondary impacts; TA—Technology assessment methodology; MM—Mitigating measures;

A third policymaking opportunity for LENR is to integrate the policy actions and updates. For example, policies for mitigation planning for secondary impacts can be coordinated with the pace of LENR development and deployment. Policies can also be integrated among agen-

As LENR prospects improve as a result of increased support, mitigation planning can be adjusted for the changing imminence and rate of deployment. This adjustment would be necessary to achieve the objectives of proactive planning for mitigation. **Figure 3** shows how the policy response for LENR development (PR) and resulting rate of deployment guides

cies at the national level, between the public and private sectors, and among nations.

**5.1. Integration of mitigation planning with LENR development support**

planning for mitigation (GP) as the overall plan (MP) is prepared.

A focus on integrated LENR policymaking results in opportunities in several other policy areas. Public agency policy integration (PA) may take place at the local, state, and national levels and requires alignment and effective communication of the policymaking entities within the agencies. Formal arrangements, such as inter-agency agreements, may be used, or integration may be achieved by informal measures, such as regular inter-agency meetings. While these measures have been used to some extent by agencies for various issues in the past, they may become increasingly important as LENR deployment progresses.

LENR development—and dealing with its impacts—may be enhanced with stronger integration between the public and private components of society (PP). For example, LENR may benefit from government policies and measures to address "market failures," in a similar vein to current laws and regulations for environmental protection. Existing programs, such as small-business research support and provisions for technology transfer from government labs to privately held companies, could increase in importance if the government becomes more active in LENR research. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) may provide another vehicle for supporting LENR development and realization. An improved stance among patent and trademark entities would also substantially enhance efforts in the private sector to realize the benefits of LENR. Opportunities may be found for integrating these policy changes and updates in the public and private aspects of LENR development.

At the international level, programs may be established for supporting LENR research (IN). As LENR reaches the stage of worldwide deployment, bilateral and multi-lateral agreements may be made or updated to enhance its availability. For example, the United Nations may implement programs for making small LENR units available in a dispersed manner in Third World nations. World Bank loans may be made to nations needing support in acquiring LENR technology for the benefit of human health and the environment. The World Trade Organization may consider LENR and its humanitarian benefits for special rulemaking to enhance availability worldwide. Again, opportunities may be found for integration of policy changes or updates among these international entities.

**7. Summary and conclusions**

**Note**

**Author details**

**References**

Thomas W. Grimshaw

Group (MWG); May 2012

Center; 2013

Despite being rejected by mainstream science not long after it was announced, LENR has continued to be pursued in many venues, resulting in improved prospects and the need for policy updates. Updates are needed both for support of LENR development and preparation to mitigate its anticipated adverse secondary impacts. As these updates are accomplished, there are opportunities to integrate the policies to support and realize LENR with mitigation planning for anticipated impacts. There are also policy integration opportunities among public and private entities and at many levels within nations and internationally. The benefits of updating and integrating LENR policies are substantial, but the challenges for doing so are also very large. Opportunities for policy updates and integration may be set forth conceptually, but realization in the "real world" will be much more difficult. Nevertheless, it is clear that the public interest will be served by updating LENR policies and achieving their integration.

Integrated Policymaking for Realizing Benefits and Mitigating Secondary Impacts of Cold Fusion

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78323

83

The purpose of this Note is to provide attribution for the original source of the paper. It may

[1] International Society of Condensed Matter Nuclear Science. Date unknown. Online.

[2] The 21st International Conference on Cold Fusion (ICCF-21), 3-8 June 2018 Fort Collins, Colorado. Online. Available: https://www.iccf21.com/. [Accessed: April 2018]

[3] Wrbanek S, et al. NASA Glenn Research Center Experience with "LENR Phenomenon", Presentation at Interagency Advanced Power Group (IAPG), Mechanical Working

[4] Douglas P, Wells D, et al. Low Energy Nuclear Reaction Aircraft – 2013 ARMD Seedling Fund Phase I Project. Hampton, Virginia. NASA/TM–2014-218283: Langley Research

be deleted if required for this chapter to be included in the book.

Address all correspondence to: thomaswgrimshaw@gmail.com

Available: http://www. iscmns.org/. [Accessed: April 2018]

The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA

**Figure 4.** Path to updated and integrated LENR policies. IPM—Integrated policymaking framework; PA—Integration among public agencies; PP—Policy coordination between public and private sectors; IN—Integration among nations at the international level; UIP—Updated and integrated LENR policies.

### **5.3. Summary path to updated and integrated LENR policies**

As policies are updated for LENR support and for mitigating adverse secondary impacts, and as they are integrated at various levels, the public interest will be served for the humanitarian benefits of LENR. **Figure 4** illustrates the full path from the present situation of LENR's changing landscape to the prospective future of fully updated and integrated LENR policies. Integrated policymaking (IPM) for LENR development and mitigating its impacts provides the basis for further updates and integration for public agency (PA), public-private (PP), and international (IN) policymaking. The desired result is fully updated and integrated policies (UIP) for LENR support and impact mitigation as well as among policymaking entities at various levels.
